On Wheels in Heels » Exotic Cars

Let Your Lambo Play Dress-Up

Xena — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 16:25:59 +0000

As we all know, accessorizing is the one thing that separates women from the animals. And from men.

However, there’s no reason to limit your accessorizing to your shoes, handbags and jewelry – there are many great ways to dress up your car as well. And if you happen to have a Lamborghini Gallardo in the garage, you’re in luck.

STRUT, the California-based luxury aftermarket auto accessorizer, has added a new collection of car jewelry to its offering. This time around, they’re offering carbon fiber and stainless steel appointments to let you customize your Lambo. Although they don’t have anything to offer first-year Gallardos, STRUT’s new collection includes two grilles with carbon fiber surrounds and stainless steel diamond-woven mesh bearing the STRUT shield for Gallardos built between 2004 and 2008. They also have matching side, rear hood, rear intake and bumper vents to add to the personal touches.

The result of these additions – besides making it a bit more personal – are a meaner profile and a distinctively different look to your Lambo. (Beats the heck out of a customized antenna ball or a bumper sticker!)

The Lamborghini Gallardo jewelry collection is $25,000 for the carbon fiber/stainless steel set and $35,000 for the limited edition titanium collection.

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What Kind of Car Are You Attracted To?

Xena — Fri, 13 Jun 2008 15:33:12 +0000

Hot on the heels of a survey that indicates women find hybrids sexier than hotrods (See What’s Sexier – A Porsche or a Prius? ), LeaseTrader.com has released a new look at what kind of women are attracted to certain cars. Or, more specifically, the men who drive those cars.

Teaming up with dating expert DeAnna Lorraine, they’re released a new look at how women react to the cars men drive.

“A man’s car reveals more about his personality and values, and may determine a woman’s attraction toward him,” Lorraine says. “Women pay attention to more than just a man’s personal looks.”

Based on the five most popular cars being leased by men, Lorraine created the following profiles:

Chevy Suburban : The men at the wheel of this car like travel, adventure and spending time with friends and family. Therefore, they tend to attract women who are family-oriented, down to earth and easygoing.

Mercedes S-Class : These guys are classy, successful and stylish – Lorraine refers to them as “Sugar Daddies.” Consequently, she believes these vehicles attract sophisticated women in their late 30s and 40s who enjoy being taken care of.

Ford F-150 : OK, please step away from the gun rack and don’t shoot the messenger here. Lorraine says that the men driving these trucks tend to be insecure and overcompensate on a tough, macho level. And the little woman on the seat next to them? They’re looking for someone to protect them.

Toyota Camry : These cars attract drivers who Lorraine called “solid, reliable and committed” – and the women they attract tend to be sweet, level-headed, uncomplicated and undemanding.

Last but not least, of course, is the Corvette . Lorraine says these drivers are “conservative but trying to satisfy a mid-life crisis by displaying their wild side through their car.” Lucky for them, they attract “hot, bad girls that are impulsive, wild and rebellious.”

I’d be interested to see her take on the women who drive these cars – and the kind of men they attract. I’m guessing it would go something like this:

Chevy Suburban : Has more kids than she has hands, and consequently spends much of her time transporting them to and from soccer/guitar/baseball practice. Secretly longs for a two-seater with a really good stereo system and a man who’s had a vasectomy.

Mercedes S-Class : This woman is career-driven and enjoys the finer things in life. She is looking for a man who (a) is not threatened by her success and (b) does not consider “moving back home with mother” a viable retirement plan.

Ford F150 : Not afraid of hard work, this little lady loves being in the driver’s seat. She wants a man who knows when it’s time to sit down, shut up, pop open a beer and ride shotgun.

Toyota Camry : Here’s good news for all the accountants out there! This car is piloted by a no-nonsense woman who craves a good value and longevity. The man who wins her heart will be loyal, consistent … and probably about as exciting as a box of hammers.

Corvette : The woman at the wheel of this car thinks that mid-life crises are for sissies, and she doesn’t have the time or patience to listen to her man whine about losing his hair. She wants to get where she’s going fast, and wants to look good getting there. In fact, she would probably rather race most men than date them. And she would probably win.

Ford battling bad truck sales with Employee Pricing on F-Series in June [via Zemanta]
Cars outsell Ford F-series for first time since ’92 [via Zemanta]

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Texas Exhibit Showcases Art of the Auto

Xena — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:36:07 +0000

Many eyes are on Abilene, Texas this week as Yisrayl Hawkins, leader of the House of Yahweh cult, has declared June 12 as Doomsday.

(Of course, the fact that there are no “End of the World” sales going on at Macy’s and Nordstrom’s immediately makes this information seem questionable.)

End time prophecies aside, there definitely will be something big happening in Abilene tomorrow – but it’s a grand opening, not a big finish.

June 12 marks the opening of a new exhibition from the Automotive Fine Arts Society at The Grace Museum in Abilene. And for anyone who loves cars, this exhibit is definitely worth the drive.

It’s the first time the AFAS has presented a museum exhibit, and the national organization has called on artists from all different mediums to make it a breath-taking experience for those who like to ooh and aah over all things automotive. Zero to 60 includes paintings and sculptures, pen-and-ink drawings, wood carvings and more. (Pictured is “Sex in the City” by Ken Eberts.)

“The paintings and sculptures of the AFAS relate their common love affair with the automobile and its history,” said Grace Museum curator Judy Deaton. She said the cars captured by the artists range from classics to current designs; from street vehicles to race cars.

“The subject may be the same but the results vary from the photorealism to energetic abstractions and everything in between,” Deaton says. “Jags, coups, convertibles, woodies, roadsters, Duesebergs, dragsters and Vettes – the romance of the road is in excellent and very talented hands.”

AFAS regularly exhibits its members talents at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance, but this marks the first time that many of these artists have been assembled in a non-automotive setting.

So if you’re headed to Abilene tomorrow to catch the End of the World, make sure you swing by The Grace Museum first. And if you can’t make it tomorrow, you have until September 7. (Well, not according to Yisrayl, but I’m going out on a limb and guessing you’re OK on time.)

The Grace Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and until 8 p.m. on Thursday. For more information, visit their web site or call 325-673-4587.

It’s The End Of The World As We Know It [via Zemanta]
Texas ‘Prophet’: Doomsday Begins June 12 [via Zemanta]

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Morrissette, Mercedes Get Green

Xena — Tue, 10 Jun 2008 13:30:08 +0000

Most of us best recall Alanis Morrissette as the gal who made ex-boyfriends around the world squirm uncomfortably whenever her songs came on the air. But it’s been 13 years since she gave us “You Oughta Know,” and today Alanis is singing a different tune.

No longer the angry young woman, today she is an environmentally minded artist and has gone from being green with envy to simply being green. And for her latest video, she wants to take audiences along for the ride.

To that end, she has partnered with Mercedes-Benz, showcasing their E320 BlueTEC in her latest video, “Underneath.” The first single from her new album, Flavors of Entanglement, the video revolves around Morrissette and her concern for the environment. It shows her wearing a “Save the Earth” T-shirt at a Los Angeles bus stop and then distributing fliers about the environment – presumably on recycled paper.

Mercedes gets in the act when the E320 BlueTEC passes, and she salutes the driver for their environmentally aware choice. So what made the BlueTEC her eco-friendly car of choice?

First off, it uses a state-of-the-art engine and exhaust technology, which produces the cleanest diesels available. That allows the V6 to provide the power of a V8 with the fuel consumption of a four-cylinder compact. Neat trick, huh?

Beyond the immediate benefit of fuel efficiency, the long-term benefit includes significantly lower carbon dioxide emissions. The Benz E320 BlueTEC was impressive enough to be named the 2007 World Green Car by automotive journalists – and clearly that’s good enough for Alanis.

In case the sedan isn’t your style, this fall Mercedes will roll out a trio of SUVs – the ML320 BlueTEC, the larger GL320 BlueTEC and the less-easy-to-define-as-a-SUV R320 BlueTEC. So if you want to help Alanis save the planet, check out these cars. If not, don’t worry – I won’t say anything. We’ve all seen how she can be when she’s mad…

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Ladies, Start Your Engines

Xena — Sat, 10 May 2008 23:53:57 +0000

The idea for On Wheels in Heels is one that has rolled around in my head for a couple of years – but one that I couldn’t ignore. As a freelance writer, I frequently meet women who are passionate about their cars, but I’ve found a noticeable lack of publications that are interested in covering automobiles from a female perspective.

Just as with most things in life, men and women approach cars differently. This truth was accentuated for me a week ago when I participated in one of World Class Driving’s luxury car tours. We spent Sunday morning near Bandera, Texas, at the wheel of such spectacular cars as the Mercedes McLaren (pictured at the top of this page), the Ferrari F430, the Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera, the Porsche 911 Twin Turbo and the new Audi R8. (I have to say, there are much worse ways to spend the day!)

Afterward, the men I talked to wanted to know how much horsepower the cars had and how fast we went; women talked about the beauty of the cars and wanted to know how they handled. Even when our interests are shared, I think the way the two genders appreciate their particular passions are approached completely different.

On Wheels in Heels is meant to be a place where women can discover more about luxury cars, but also check out the latest gadgets and accessories. (Because, as you know, even in a car, we must accessorize.) It’s a place to “ooh” and “aah” over great new cars and even learn a little bit about what’s happening with other female drivers.

I hope you’ll feel welcome to join the conversation or start one of your own; tell your friends and ask them to join us. Because, like most experiences in life, this journey was meant to be shared.

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On Wheels in Heels » Exotic Cars

Let Your Lambo Play Dress-Up

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What Kind of Car Are You Attracted To?

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Texas Exhibit Showcases Art of the Auto

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Morrissette, Mercedes Get Green

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Ladies, Start Your Engines

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